Gift Guide: What to Buy for Me (Part II)

I initially called the "stuff I want" post Part I of many.  You'll never believe this, but I actually wasn't coming up with more stuff I wanted.  But I realized I needed to be a woman of my word and not leave you hanging when I said I would deliver.  So, without further ado, more cool stuff!

Color Wheel Umbrella, $24

I love this rainbow umbrella.  I've always liked them, but have only seen those in those humongo golf-sized versions.  Who is carrying those huge umbrellas, by the way, who is not insane?  "Looks like it's raining!  Let me grab this huge thing that is pointy, cumbersome and literally an entire yard long!  Easy breezy!"  Anyway, here's one in a practical size.  Yay.

Jonathan Adler Peace Bookends, $195

Honestly?  There's not much to say.  Super groovy to the maximum amount possible.

Caitlin McGauley prints, $75

I love Caitlin McGauley's fun, preppy watercolors.  Seeing them makes me pretend like my life is much more glamorous and together than it is. I like the idea of hanging one of them with a large off-white mat and a thin, simple dark wood frame alone on a wall painted in a supercool color.  Yay, pretend life!

J. Crew monogrammed sweaters, $100-$200-ish

Since I got married and changed my name, I've become convinced that the quickest way to acclimate to a new name is to get tons of cute monogrammed stuff.  I mean, the logic is sound, right?  

Reading is Fundamental, donation

Look, I'm being a good person!  This organization sounds awesome.  I first read about it here.  This group promotes literacy in high-poverty areas by providing new books to children.  As you probably know by now, I'm basically obsessed with reading, and I can't have imagined my childhood without books.  The statistic above is sobering.  Sounds like a great place to make a holiday contribution.

Bye!

The Prettiest Cookies You've Ever Seen

Let's get seriously serious for a sec, okay?  Are these not the prettiest cookies you've ever seen????

I mean, stop, right?  Ridiculous!  I'm sure you didn't think for a second that I baked them, but if that crossed your mind, I didn't.  They are from here.  (Oh, and not only does this girl make the prettiest cookies ever as a side business, her day job is being a doctor.  And she's super pretty with looong eyelashes.  Meanwhile, I stage photos of cookies other people baked on leather ottomans.  So that's a thing.)  

Choose Your Own Backstory!

Off of Sarah's recommendation, I bought a used copy of The History of Love.

When I opened it, there was an inscription inside:

What do you think was the deal with Ben and Virginia?

Okay, they had to be in college, right?  Because nobody writes stuff like this after college... right?  Sine Cera?  Seriously?  I had to look that up... it's Italian for "without wax".  Sculptors might fill in their mistakes on a statue with wax, and if something was made without wax, it was the real deal.  Barf.

So which do you think is the most likely?:

(a) Virginia and Ben met in an American Lit 1970 to the Present course, started sitting next to each other in class and talking about books after class.  They had it bad for each other, but both were too shy to make a move.  This is how Ben tried to get Virginia's attention.  It worked, and they smooched big time on the quad, and were together for 4 years.  Virginia had a hard time with the breakup, even though it was her idea.  She wanted this act of selling Ben's book to not matter, but she knew she really meant it as a statement of disowning the relationship.  Quickly after she got rid of it, she wished she hadn't.  She really liked the book, and it wasn't like suitors went around inscribing books for her anymore.  Especially in New York where it's impossible to date.  Ugh.  Why did she even move to New York?  Dumb.

(b) Virginia and Ben had been dating, and dating fell into serious love quickly.  This was one of Ben's many romantic gestures to Virginia.  It was first love.  It was college.  Years after their relationship ended, Virginia would sometimes page through these tokens of Ben's love.  She hadn't spoken to Ben in years.  He was desperate for a Fulbright, and convincingly feigned interest in something obscure enough to secure one.  They broke up shortly before he moved to Azerbaijan.  It was surprisingly easy to get over him because his internet access was so spotty anyway, she didn't really get sucked into dialogues with him.  And Ben was always his most attractive in the written word.  Virginia got married a year ago.  He's so different than Ben, but really, he's so great for her.  As they were moving into their starter home together, she came across this book.  How, she wondered, could 4 years feel so long ago?  Ben seemed like a distant memory.  Here, in this home, was where her life was.  She smiled at the book.  Not a sad smile, just an acknowledgement of a life that's passed.  She put it in the "give away" pile, never thinking about it again.  "Hey, hon," she called.  "Do you want to go get some sushi?"

(c) Virginia and Ben were on the same floor in the dorms freshman year.  Ben was kind of moody and brooding.  He played violin and wore fedoras.  For the first couple months of college, Virginia was intrigued.  There weren't guys like that where she grew up.  Sometimes she and her roommate would see Ben in the halls and tell him to come over -- they were blending up margaritas and made too much.  As Virginia got to know him, she liked Ben fine, but would never like like him.  He was honestly pretty weird, and she had met someone else recently, who she was really digging.  Once, like, for a second, she and Ben talked about books.  Virginia liked to read but wasn't, like, obsessed with reading.  Ben knew a lot about books and recommended a book once.  Virginia half heartedly said it sounded good.  And then this book showed up in a manilla envelope outside her door.  Whoa, she thought.  Ben got the way wrong idea.  She laughed about it with her roommate.  Not in a mean-spirited way.  Just in a nervous, uncomfortable way.  He still lived 40' from her, so she'd have to set the record straight, without being mean about it.  She sold it after spring semester ended.  No way she was going to lug that book home for the summer.  She never even read it.

What do you think, guys??

Christmas Music: Album Recommendations

A follow up from Tara re: Christmas music:

If you find your thirst for Xmas music merely whetted by this mix, allow me to recommend some full albums.  (Some of the songs on the above mix are what I might call “One Hit Winter Wonderlanders”--either the artist recorded just one song for a compilation album, or the rest of the record is simply not worth buying.)  But these guys are all worth checking out:

MODERN CLASSICS

• Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey - A modern classic in the truest sense of the word.  Can you believe those high notes on O Holy Night??  Xmas miracle, seriously.
• The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album by The Beach Boys - No bad songs on this oldie-but-goodie.  Retro-cool!
• Handel’s Messiah - This one is really more of an ACTUAL classic, seeing as how it was composed in 1742.  One of my favorite holiday traditions involves attending a “sing-along Messiah” event.  Or, as my friends and I refer to it, “singin’ about Jesus.”   If you like choral/classical music, you can’t go wrong here.  If you get really into it, you can buy a score and sing along!  Includes such favorites as “All We Like Sheep” and “Behold, A Virgin Shall Concieve.”  Your grandmas and/or religious aunties will approve.

INDIE XMAS

• Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens - If you already like Sufjan, you will surely enjoy this massive 2-disc compilation of holiday-ish music.
• A Very She & Him Christmas by She & Him - My first Xmas album purchase of 2011, and it’s a keeper!  Their retro-twee sound really complements the selection of traditional Xmas songs.  Love it.
• Christmas by Low - Simply beautiful.  Good for a mellow cocktail party or snuggling by the fire with a mug of special egg nog.
• Noel and Joy by Oh, Starling - Adorable arrangements of traditional Xmas songs, with harmonies.
• Snow Angels by Over The Rhine - These guys sometimes edge perilously close to “smooth jazz,” but holy wassail, Karin Bergquist sure does have a beautiful voice!

UNCLASSIFIABLE

• Christmas in the Heart by Bob Dylan - For the true Dylan fan, or alternatively, for a good laugh.  One NPR reviewer made the observation that Dylan has an uncanny ability to make “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” sound like a threat.  Indeed.

Gifts for Moms!

A friend asks:
What kind of things do you get your mom for Christmas?  I am always thinking of good things for dad (mostly books), but mom is harder.

In response, I say:
Happy to help out!  I'm pretty good at moms.  Also, I can't believe you find it easy to shop for your dad.  Wow.

Okay, here's how I think about mom gifts: I basically get my mom stuff I want, that would also be mom appropriate.  So it's kind of like shopping for yourself, only you buy it and then give it away.

Most moms think their daughters are pretty cool ladies (...right, Mom?), so it's nice when you get your mom a gift that isn't just a "mom gift" but something cool that you can get excited about together.  Especially if it's "Omigod, I also got one for myself... it's totally the best!"  That proves that it's not just a mom gift, but a legitimate gift that you think is great.

So without further ado... here are 12 ideas for mom gifts!

Accessories

geo print $48

I've gotten my mom a few scarves in the past... I just think about what colors she tends to wear and stick to that family.  I like a lighter weight that can be worn year-round with a lot of different shades featured so it can match more outfits.  Rectangles tend to be easier to wear than squares.  Nordstrom always has a lot of nice options in the $30-$60 range.

hobo international "nancy - lunch" multifunction wallet $98

Sometimes moms carry wallets for a long time and don't notice that they are getting really beat up.  What a perfect opportunity for a daughter to sweep in and refresh her wallet for her!  This can also be a fun time to get an unexpected, fresh color, since it's not something that's always visible, but can be a fun pick-me-up insider her purse.  Before buying, think about what size wallet she tends to carry, since this is usually a matter of personal taste.  I like this fun bright one.

tom's yellow pop herringbone $54

My mom turned me onto Tom's, and I am obsessed.  They are way more comfortable than I imagined (arch support!), and I love that they don't require socks.  Now you can turn your mom onto them!  This pair's bright yellow sole makes me smile.

For the Home

envirosax bloom pouch $39.95

I know I've already talked about how much I like envirosax, but I really like them and would give them to my mom if I hadn't already gifted her with a set a few years ago.  They fold up small, are washable, and the straps are the perfect length to comfortably put over your shoulder or hold by your side.

perfex pepper mill $80

Yet again, an item I've gotten for my mom (and she loves it).  Now I want one for myself!  It doesn't require you to twist your wrist as many pepper grinders do, so if your mom has wrist issues, this definitely a keeper.

berard olive wood salt keeper $48.95

As long as you're giving the pepper a makeover, you might as well give the salt a little class, too!  What a lovely piece to keep by the stove.

calligraphy return address stamp $52

A beautiful return address stamp makes corresponding so much more fun and elegant.  These are all over etsy (in the $20-$60) range, but this one is especially pretty.  Practical moms may prefer a self-inking variety, though.

Ici Silicone Tools $10 - $39.95

A few years ago, I took it upon myself to fill my mom's stocking with a refreshed set of kitchen utensils.  Hers were looking pretty worse for the wear, and having spent so much time with them, she didn't notice.  I kept seeing so many cute ones in cheery colors and thought my mom deserved some.  The ones above are from Williams-Sonoma, but there's no need to pay full price -- any Marshall's, TJ Maxx or Home Goods should have a great variety in the $2-$6 range.


Beauty

chanel eyeshadow illusion d'ombre $36 

If I find a great beauty product that's fool-proof and a great value, I love to spread the good word!  I think my mom would love wearing this easy to apply (I use my finger) eyeshadow that shimmers in a classy way, stays on all day and never creases.  (Magic!)

josie maran argan oil 1.7oz $48

Moms aren't always the best at splurging for themselves, so a basic product that feels great can be just the little something she might like to feel just as special as you know she is.  Every gal who's gotten her paws on Josie Maran's Argan Oil knows what I'm talking about.

Reading

Hunger Games Trilogy $31

I learned to love to read because of my mom.  I always try to pass along whatever books I've been loving lately.  And as you know, I've been loving this trilogy lately.  I just passed it onto my mom, and she is having a blast with it!  (Moms also like normal grown-up books too.)

cook's illustrated subscription $24.96

A magazine subscription can be a nice monthly reminder of your love.  I know my mom has enjoyed Cook's Illustrated.  New York Magazine is also a fun (weekly!) read... like The New Yorker but easier to digest, but still smart.

And there you have it!  Everything I know about giving things to moms.

Bye!

The Ultimate Christmas Music Mix

I am so excited to present my first ever guest blog post, by my dear friend Tara.  Tara is totally qualified to speak to the wonders of Christmas music because (a) she loves Christmas, (b) she loves music, (c) she lives in Alaska, which is literally a winter wonderland.


So without further ado... here we go!

Happy Holidays, guys!  Joey asked me to do a guest blog post about Xmas music, knowing as she does how completely and unironically I adore this genre of music.  I was thrilled to do so, not least because it gave me a rock solid excuse to listen to Xmas music with abandon before Thanksgiving to perfect my mix.  The only misgivings I ever have about the arrival of Xmas music season is that it means my local Lite Rock station starts playing all holiday songs!!!  Why must my enjoyment of one completely uncool genre of music over the airwaves come at the expense of another?  Woe is me!

But I digress.  I made you guys a totally sweet Xmas music mix!  I am hoping it will expose you to some Xmas music with which you may not already be familiar.  All of songs on my mix are by “modern” artists (i.e. Frightened Rabbit) or otherwise “cool” artists (i.e. Johnny Cash).  I am not giving you any Mannheim Steamroller or Vienna Boys’ Choir--I am about to go all Xmas-music-snob on all y’all.  

Now, my Xmas mix may not be to everyone’s liking.  A lot of people say they don’t like Xmas music at all--but really, Xmas music is just like any other type of music--there is good Xmas music, and there is bad.  In fact, it’s even harder to lump all Xmas music in together, because although the themes may all be the same, there is a wide variety in genre in style.  (Saying you hate Xmas music isn’t like saying you hate country music or rap music--it’s more like saying you hate all songs about love.  How could you say such a thing??  You are a heartless individual.)

Even if you DO tend to like Xmas music, you may need some time to adjust to the modern songs, or you may never really accept these modern songs as being evocative of Xmas.  You may want nothing but nostalgia from your Xmas music, i.e. songs that were playing on your parents’ record player when you were a kiddo and--spoiler alert!--still believed in Santa Claus.  (This is, incidentally, an approach to music that transcends the Xmas genre... some people, at some point, simply stop taking real pleasure in discovering and falling in love with new music.  If you still persist in listening to Dave Matthews Band, you may be one of those people.  I still love you though!)

To you folk I say: you are missing out!  There is so much beautiful modern Xmas music.  And just think, if you play this music for your kiddos, they will learn to love it and identify it with their wonderful Xmases, just like we did with Merry Christmas Baby and Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), which were relatively new when we were young but are now totally classic!  I now get the same fuzzy-holiday-family-snowy-cookie-tinsely feelings from Low’s beautiful “Just Like Christmas” and the ridiculous yet sublime “Hooray for Santy Claus” as I do from the majestic “O Holy Night” and the annoying yet quintessential “The Chipmunk Song.”

A side note on mix-making more generally.  First, I believe all mixes should have a title, and I like to draw my title from a somewhat random lyric in one of the songs on the mix.  Listen for it!  Second, I believe all mixes should be kept to 1h20m or less because I believe you should be able to burn it to a CD and hand it to somebody, all old-school-like.  Also, keeping the mix to a set length forces you to curate the mix more carefully!  Finally, the website where I posted the mix, 8Tracks, will let you listen to the whole mix all the way through in order once, but you’re only allowed to “skip” a couple of songs while listening, and the second time you listen, it will put the tracks in random order--annoying, because I have METICULOUSLY chosen this order of tracks for the perfect listening experience.
With that, here is my gift to you this holiday season--my Ultimate Xmas Mix.  Don’t you DARE wait till Christmas morning to open it!  

Here’s the track listing:

1 // Cry Cry Christmas | The Sweptaways Feat. Magnus Carlson & The Gray Brigade | 3:26
2 // Christmas Day | She & Him | 3:24
3 // Just Like Christmas | Low | 3:08
4 // Merry Christmas, Baby | The Beach Boys | 2:27
5 // It Came Upon A Midnight Clear | Oh, Starling | 4:25
6 // Christmas In Prison | John Prine | 3:13
7 // Santa Claus Is Coming to Town | Mason Jennings | 2:09
8 // Away In A Manger | Sufjan Stevens | 2:54
9 // Be My Valentine On Christmas | Glenna Bell | 3:12
10 // Darlin' (Christmas is Coming) | Over The Rhine | 3:35
11 // Maybe This Christmas | Ron Sexsmith | 1:53
12 // All I Want For Christmas Is You | Mariah Carey | 4:01
13 // Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) | Darlene Love | 2:50
14 // I'd Like To Have An Elephant For Christmas | Hank Thompson | 2:03
15 // O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | Belle & Sebastian | 3:27
16 // Joy To The World | Clem Snide | 2:28
17 // All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue | Over The Rhine | 4:25
18 // God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen | Bright Eyes | 1:52
19 // 2000 Miles | The Everyothers | 3:23
20 // Little Gray Donkey | Johnny Cash | 4:43
21 // Christmas Tree On Fire | Holly Golightly | 2:54
22 // Happy Christmas (War is Over) | The Polyphonic Spree | 4:18
23 // Hooray for Santy Claus | Senor Tonto Christmas Combo | 2:03
24 // Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | Scissors For Lefty | 2:26
25 // Auld Lang Syne | Martin Sexton | 2:29

From Bawling to Bragging... an update on the moustache

I know you're all dying to know how the Stanley Tucci costume went over at the big gala last night.  So I'll give you the recap I got via text from Trav's friend.

(Also, I want to point out that when I started sobbing, I started laughing while sobbing shortly after, because I got that it was funny that I was crying from being scared, but also, I was still scared.  So.)

Around 10:30pm I got this picture:

...which is all of the following: funny, disgusting, horrifying.

At 11:13pm, I got word that he was in the costume contest:

At 11:30... check out this winner's sash!!!:

And lastly, what I can only assume is a picture with adoring fans:

So it all worked out, guys.

And, just so we don't leave Stanley Tucci hanging in a bad light, I feel the need to share that he is Caesar Flickman in The Hunger Games (the talk show host).  Here's the only picture I could find:

Phew, that's better.